Quick answer: China issues a different visa for each purpose. Tourists need an L; business travelers an M, with an invitation from the company in China. Work is a Z, study an X1 or X2, and visiting family a Q if your relative is a Chinese citizen or an S if they are a foreigner living there. Crew use a C. Choosing the right category is the first decision in any application.
China issues a different visa for each reason you're traveling, and choosing the right category is the first decision in any application. Here's the plain-English version of the main types U.S. applicants use — what each is for, and where to read the details.
The main China visa types
Tourist (L) — sightseeing, visiting friends, personal travel. For U.S. citizens this is usually a 10-year, multiple-entry visa. Read the L visa guide.
Business (M) — meetings, trade, negotiations, conferences. Requires an invitation letter from a company in China. Read the M visa guide.
Work (Z) — full-time employment with a China-based employer. Requires a work-permit notification and converts to a residence permit after arrival. Read the Z visa guide.
Student (X1 / X2) — studying at a Chinese institution. X1 for programs over six months, X2 for shorter. Needs an admission letter and a JW201/JW202 form. Read the X visa guide.
Family (Q1 / Q2) — visiting Chinese family. Q1 for long-term reunion, Q2 for short visits. Needs an invitation from your relative. Read the Q visa guide.
Family of a foreign worker or student (S1 / S2) — visiting a relative who is a foreigner living in China for work or study, rather than a Chinese citizen. Read the S visa guide.
Crew (C) — working crew on international flights, trains and ships, and drivers in cross-border road transport. Read the C visa guide.
Not sure which you need?
If you're traveling for tourism, business, or to see family for a normal trip, you almost certainly want an L, M, or Q visa — and we can confirm the right one when you apply. Work and study visas (Z, X) start with your employer or school, who provide the documents that begin the process. One distinction catches people out: if the relative you are visiting is a foreigner working or studying in China rather than a Chinese citizen, you need an S visa, not a Q.
Whatever the type, the process is the same two steps: complete the online COVA application, then submit your passport in person at your consulate. That's the part we handle.
Start your China visa application or see China visa options by state.
Get My Passports is a private company that provides China visa application assistance. We're not affiliated with or endorsed by any government agency, and all visa decisions — type, validity, entries, and approval — are made solely by the Chinese consulate. Requirements can vary by consulate and change over time; confirm the current rules before you apply.
